Giannis Antetokounmpo on his little brother: 'I definitely think Alex can be better than me'
Giannis Antetokounmpo has already made his mark as one of the best players in the NBA.
The star has helped turn the Milwaukee Bucks into a legitimate contender in his six years in the league, and is fresh off a season where he led the Bucks to the Eastern Conference finals and won the league MVP award. The 24-year-old averaged 27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds last season, both career highs.
Yet, in his eyes, there’s a better Antetokounmpo — his little brother, Alex.
“I definitely think Alex can be better than me,” Giannis said, via Bleacher Report’s Mirin Fader. “He stays motivated. He wants this. That's what makes him special. He's not satisfied.”
Giannis already welcomed another brother into the league this summer. His older brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, signed a two-year, $3 million deal with the Bucks this weekend, making his return to the NBA from the Greek League. A third brother, Kostas Antetokounmpo, is currently on the Dallas Mavericks, while the oldest brother, Francis Antetokounmpo, plays professional soccer.
Alex already has a lot to live up to in the world of professional sports, though he seems fully on his way to doing so. A senior at Dominican High School in Milwaukee, Alex is always working on his game — so much so that his mom, Veronica, is constantly having to tell him to come home and rest.
“He’s so far ahead of everyone else as far as overall talent,” said his coach, Jim Gosz. “He shows signs of greatness at times.”
The 17-year-old’s future in basketball is still up in the air. He’s currently received offers from Wisconsin-Green Bay and Ohio, and is a recruit in the 2020 class. He could forgo the collegiate route altogether, too, and jump to professional basketball overseas.
Either way he goes, Alex isn’t letting the natural comparisons to his brothers — especially to Giannis — get him down.
He’s just focused on improving himself, something he said Giannis is still working toward, too.
“My end goal is not to be better than Giannis,” Alex said, via Bleacher Report. “My end goal is to be the best version of my own self. I just happen to think that the best version of my own self could possibly surpass what my brother's doing right now, which — I don't even think that's the best version of him.”
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